Lead having radially spaced apart contacts to allow for adjustability

ABSTRACT

An implantable medical lead includes a lead body having a proximal portion and a distal portion. The lead also includes first and second contacts located at the proximal portion of the lead body, and includes first and second electrodes located at the distal portion of the lead body. The first electrode is electrically coupled to the first contact and the second electrode is electrically coupled to the second contact. The first contact has a proximal end and a distal end and the second contact has proximal end and a distal end. The second contact is radially spaced apart from the first contact. The contacts do not extend around the lead body. This disclosure also relates to an implantable lead extension and to an implantable signal generator having connectors configured to receive the present lead.

This is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/992,922, filed Nov. 16, 2010, which application claims the benefit ofand is a U.S. National Stage filing under 35 U.S.C. 371 of copending PCTApplication Serial No. PCT/US09/45577, filed May 29, 2009, which in turnclaims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/058,292, filedJun. 3, 2008 “Lead Having Radially Spaced Apart Contacts to Allow forAdjustability”, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/175,481, filedMay 5, 2009, “Lead Having Radially Spaced Apart Contacts to Allow forAdjustability,” the disclosures of which are incorporated herein byreference in their entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to implantable medical devices; moreparticularly to medical leads having radially spaced apart proximalcontacts.

BACKGROUND

Headaches, such as migraines, and occipital neuralgia are oftenincapacitating and may lead to significant consumption of drugs to treatthe symptoms. However, a rather large number of people are unresponsiveto drug treatment, leaving them to wait out the episode or to resort tocoping mechanisms. For refractive occipital neuralgia, nerve ablation orseparation may effectively treat the pain.

Occipital nerve stimulation may serve as an alternative for treatment ofmigraines or occipital neuralgia. For example, a dual channelimplantable electrical generator may be implanted subcutaneously in apatient. A distal portion of first and second leads may be implanted inproximity to a left and right occipital nerve such that one or moreelectrode of the leads are in electrical communication with theoccipital nerves. The proximal portions of the leads may then beconnected to the signal generator such that electrical signals can bedelivered from the signal generator to the electrodes to applytherapeutic signals to the occipital nerves Alternatively, two singlechannel implantable electrical generators may be employed, where thefirst lead is connected to one signal generator and the second lead isconnected to the second signal generator. In either case, the lead istypically tunneled subcutaneously from the site of implantation of thesignal generator to the occipital nerve or around the base of the skull.Such tunneling can be time consuming and is invasive.

It may be desirable to reduce the amount of tunneling by placing theelectrical signal generator in close proximity to the location of thenerve to be stimulated. Another way to reduce tunneling may be to tunnela single lead extension having a distal end capable of receiving morethan one lead to a location close to the nerves to be stimulated, andthen coupling the leads to the extension. In either case, the implanteddistance that the lead spans is greatly reduced.

For applications where nerves in the head are to be stimulated, it maybe desirable to minimize or eliminate excess lead length. Typicallyleads are longer than needed to allow a given lead model orconfiguration to be used for a variety of purposes and in patients ofvarying size. Excess lead is typically wrapped or coiled in asubcutaneous pocket in which the electrical signal generator isimplanted. However, in some areas of the body, such as under the scalp,coiling or wrapping of excess lead length may be uncomfortable for thepatient in which the lead is implanted or may cause lead abrasion dueto, e.g., rubbing against the skull.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present disclosure, among other things, describes leads havingelongate radially spaced apart contacts that allow for adjustment of thelength of the lead extending from an implantable medical device. Suchadjustability may be sufficient to allow the lead to be properly placedduring an implant procedure or may allow the lead to be used forpatients with differing anatomical sizes. Such adjustability may alsoallow for the elimination of excess coiled lead, particularly when thelead is configured to extend only a short distance from the medicaldevice to which the lead is configured to be coupled. Such leads may bebeneficial for applying electrical stimulation signals to occipitalnerves, particularly when the leads are connected to a lead extension orsignal generator in proximity to the occipital nerves.

In an embodiment of this disclosure, an implantable medical lead isdescribed. The lead includes a lead body having a proximal portion and adistal portion. The lead also includes first and second contacts locatedat the proximal portion of the lead body, and includes first and secondelectrodes located at the distal portion of the lead body. The firstelectrode is electrically coupled to the first contact, and the secondelectrode is electrically coupled to the second contact. The firstcontact has a proximal end and a distal end, and the second contact hasproximal end and a distal end. The second contact is radially spacedapart from the first contact. Lead extensions and implantable signalgenerators having connectors for receiving such a lead are alsodescribed. The distance that the lead extends from such the extension orsignal generator may be adjusted by axial movement of the lead relativeto the device, due to the configuration of the contacts of the lead.

In an embodiment, a method for adjusting the distance from which a leadextends from a face of a connector configured to receive the lead isdescribed. The connector includes a lead receptacle having first andsecond internal contacts configured to electrically couple to first andsecond contacts of a lead having elongate radially spaced apartcontacts. The method includes inserting the lead having elongateradially spaced apart contacts into the lead receptacle and adjustingthe distance that the lead extends from the face of the connector byaxially moving the lead within the lead receptacle. The first and secondcontacts of the lead are capable of electrically coupling to the firstand second internal contacts of the receptacle as the lead is beingaxially moved within the receptacle.

In an embodiment, a lead has a proximal portion having an elongatecontact, and a distal portion having an electrode. The electrode iselectrically coupled to the contact. The proximal portion of the leadhas a lead body, and the contact does not extend around the lead body.

The leads, extensions, signal generators, systems and methods describedherein provide one or more advantages over prior leads, extensions,signal generators, systems and methods. Such advantages will be readilyunderstood from the following detailed description when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an implantable system including asignal generator, lead extension and lead.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of an implantable system including asignal generator and lead.

FIG. 3A is a schematic side view of a lead having an elongated contactand a connector configured to receive the lead.

FIG. 3B is a schematic cross-section of the lead depicted in FIG. 3Ataken through line 3 b-3 b.

FIG. 3C is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a portion ofthe lead depicted in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 3D is a schematic cross-section of the connector depicted in FIG.3A taken through line 3 d-3 d.

FIG. 4A is a schematic perspective view of a portion of a lead having ageometric feature for proper alignment within a connector.

FIG. 4B is a head-on front view of the lead depicted in FIG. 4A.

FIG. 4C is a head-on front view of a connector configured to receive thelead depicted in FIG. 4A.

FIGS. 5A-B are schematic side views of lead having an elongated contactand a connector configured to receive the lead, showing the distancethat the lead extends from the connector being adjustable.

FIGS. 6A-B are schematic diagrams showing distal portions of bifurcatedleads implanted in a subjects and positioned to apply an electricalsignal to left and right occipital nerves.

FIGS. 7-8 are schematic side views of lead extensions having bifurcatingconnectors and associated leads.

The drawings are not necessarily to scale. Like numbers used in thefigures refer to like components, steps and the like. However, it willbe understood that the use of a number to refer to a component in agiven figure is not intended to limit the component in another figurelabeled with the same number. In addition, the use of different numbersto refer to components is not intended to indicate that the differentnumbered components cannot be the same or similar.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown byway of illustration several specific embodiments of devices, systems andmethods. It is to be understood that other embodiments are contemplatedand may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of thepresent disclosure. The following detailed description, therefore, isnot to be taken in a limiting sense.

All scientific and technical terms used herein have meanings commonlyused in the art unless otherwise specified. The definitions providedherein are to facilitate understanding of certain terms used frequentlyherein and are not meant to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singularforms “a”, “an”, and “the” encompass embodiments having pluralreferents, unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. As used inthis specification and the appended claims, the term “or” is generallyemployed in its sense including “and/or” unless the content clearlydictates otherwise.

As used herein, “have”, “having”, “include”, “including”, “comprise”,“comprising” or the like are used in their open ended sense, andgenerally mean “including, but not limited to”.

“Exemplary” or “representative” is used in the sense of “for example” or“for the purpose of illustration”, and not in a limiting sense.

The present disclosure describes, inter alia, leads having elongateradially spaced apart contacts that allow for adjustment of the lengthof the lead extending from an implantable medical device. Such leads andassociated medical devices, such as lead extensions or signalgenerators, configured to receive such leads, may, in somecircumstances, allow for the leads to be implanted without having tocoil or bunch up excess lead length. For example, when the lead iscoupled to the signal generator or extension in proximity to thelocation in which the lead exerts its effect, the lead may be configuredto extend only a short distance from the device and minor adjustments inlead placement may be effectuated by adjusting the distance the leadextends from the device.

Nearly any implantable medical device or system employing leads may beused in conjunction with the leads described herein. Representativeexamples of such implantable medical devices include hearing implants,cochlear implants; sensing or monitoring devices; signal generators suchas cardiac pacemakers or defibrillators, neurostimulators (such asspinal cord stimulators, brain or deep brain stimulators, peripheralnerve stimulators, vagal nerve stimulators, occipital nerve stimulators,subcutaneous stimulators, etc.), gastric stimulators; or the like. Forpurposes of occipital nerve stimulation, electrical signal generatorssuch as Medtronic, Inc.'s Restore® or Synergy® series of implantableneurostimulators may be employed.

Referring to FIG. 1, a schematic side view of a representativeelectrical signal generator system 100 is shown. In the depicted system100, the electrical signal generator 10 includes a connector header 15configured to receive a proximal portion of lead extension 20. Theproximal portion of lead extension 20 contains a plurality of electricalcontacts 22 that are electrically coupled to internal contacts (notshown) at distal connector 24 of lead extension 20. The connector header15 of the signal generator 10 contains internal contacts (not shown) andis configured to receive the proximal portion of the lead extension 20such that the internal contacts of the connector header 15 may beelectrically coupled to the contacts 22 of the lead extension 20 whenthe lead extension 20 in inserted into the header 15.

The system depicted in FIG. 1 further includes a lead 800. The depictedlead 800 has a proximal portion that includes a plurality of contacts850 (only one shown) and a distal portion that includes a plurality ofelectrodes 824. Each of the electrodes 824 may be electrically coupledto a discrete contact 850. The distal connector 24 of the lead extension20 is configured to receive the proximal portion of the lead 800 suchthat the contacts 850 of the lead 800 may be electrically coupled to theinternal contacts of the connector 24 of the extension 20. Accordingly,a signal generated by the signal generator 10 may be transmitted to apatient by an electrode 824 of lead 800 when lead is connected toextension 20 and extension 20 is connected to signal generator 10.

It will be understood that lead 800 may be coupled to signal generator10 without use of an extension 20, and the connector header 15 or otherlead connector of the signal generator may be configured to make anelectrical connection with the contacts 850 of the lead 800 (see, e.g.,FIG. 2). Any number of leads 800 or extensions 20 may be coupled tosignal generator 10. Typically, one or two leads 800 or extensions 20are coupled to signal generator 10. While lead 800 is depicted as havingfour electrodes 824, it will be understood that lead 800 may include anynumber of electrodes 824, e.g. one, two, three, four, five, six, seven,eight, sixteen, thirty-two, or sixty-four. Corresponding changes in thenumber of contacts 850 in lead 800, contacts 22 and internal contacts inconnector 24 of lead extension, or internal contacts in connector 15 ofsignal generator 10 may be required or desired.

The leads 800 depicted in FIGS. 1-2 have contacts 850 that are radiallyspaced apart and allow for adjustability within a connector; e.g., aconnector of a lead extension, signal generator, or the like. Leadshaving such contacts and connectors for receiving such leads aredescribed below in more detail.

Referring now to FIGS. 3A-D, various views of a lead 800 and associatedconnector 900 (which may be a connector 24 of a lead extension 20 or aconnector header 15 of an active implantable medical device; e.g. asshown in FIG. 1) are shown. As shown in the top view of FIG. 3A, thelead 800 includes a lead body 870 proximal portion 872 and a distalportion 874. One or more electrodes 824 are located at the distalportion 874 of the lead body 870. One or more contacts 850 are locatedat the proximal portion 872 of the lead body 870. By “located at”, withregard to an electrode or a contact in relationship to a lead body, itis meant that the electrode or contact is fixed relative to the statedposition to the lead body. An electrode or contact located at aspecified portion of a lead body, may, with regard to the lead body, bedisposed on, disposed partially in, integrally formed with, or the like.

Still referring to FIG. 3A, the elongate contact 850 is electricallycoupled to an electrode 824 at the distal portion of the lead 800. Theproximal portion 872 of the lead 800 may be inserted into a leadreceptacle (not show in FIG. 3) of connector 900 to allow distal end andelectrodes 824 of lead 800 to extend a variable distance from theconnector 900 (e.g., as illustrated below with reference to FIGS. 5A-B).

Referring now to FIG. 3B, a cross section of lead 800 taken along line 3b-3 b of FIG. 3A is shown. The depicted lead 800 includes four radiallyspaced apart contacts 850A. 850B, 850C, 850D, each of which may beelectrically coupled to a distinct electrode 824 (see FIG. 3A). Ofcourse a lead having radially spaced apart contacts 850 may include anysuitable number of contacts and any suitable number of electrodes.

A lead having radially spaced apart contacts as described herein may bemade in any suitable manner. One suitable manner for incorporating suchcontacts into a lead body is described in U.S. Published PatentApplication 2006/0173262, entitled “Medical lead with segmentedelectrode”, having application Ser. No. 11/343,667 filed Jan. 31, 2006,which published application is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety to the extent that it does not conflict with the disclosurepresented herein. Contacts, as described herein, may be incorporatedinto a lead in a manner similar to the segmented electrodes in U.S.Published Patent Application 2006/0173262.

Referring now to FIG. 3C, a perspective view of a portion of arepresentative lead 800 having a plurality of radially spaced apartcontacts 850A, 850B, 850C, 850D is shown. The contacts 850A, 850B, 850C,850D are elongate and have a proximal end 852A, 852B and a distal end854A, 854B. The length of a contact 850A, 850B, 850C, 850D from theproximal end to the distal end may affect the adjustability of the lead800. The longer the length of a contact, the more that the distance thatthe lead extends from the connector can be adjusted. The correspondingconnector to which the lead is configured to be coupled should bemodified to accommodate the length of the contact to achieve the fullbenefit of adjustability. In many cases, it may be desirable to keep thesize of the connector small; e.g. for ease of implantation or patientcomfort. Thus, while a contact may be any length in theory, practicalconsiderations may limit the length of the contacts of a lead. Invarious embodiments, the length of a contact less than about 10 cm. Forexample, the length of a contact may be between about 2 cm and about 10cm, between about 1 cm and about 8 cm, between about 1 cm and about 5cm, or about 2 cm.

Referring now to FIG. 3D, a cross-section of the connector shown in FIG.3A taken at line 3 d-3 d is shown. The connector 900 includes a leadreceptacle 910 configured to receive a lead. The lead receptacle 910includes a plurality or radially spaced apart internal contacts 912A-Dconfigured to electrically couple with radically spaced apart contactsof lead when the lead is inserted into the receptacle 910. Otherwise,the connector 910 may be similarly configured to connectors configuredto receive leads having ring contacts.

Referring now to FIGS. 4A-C, a lead 800 and connector 900 may includeencoding geometric features 880, 990 that assist in aligning thecontacts 850A, 850B, 850C, 850D (not shown in FIG. 4A) of the lead 800with internal contacts (not shown) of the connector 900. Any suitableencoding geometric features 880, 980 may be employed. For the purposesof illustration, the proximal portion 872 of the lead 800 depicted inFIG. 4A includes a protrusion 880 extending from the lead body 870. Theprotrusion 880 may be integrally formed with or otherwise affixed to thelead body 870, and may extend any suitable distance along the length ofthe lead 800. A head-on front view of the lead 800 is shown in FIG. 4B.A head-on front view of a connector 900 having a complementary geometricfeature 980 to the geometric feature of the lead is shown in FIG. 4C.Preferably, the geometric feature 980 extends the internal length of thereceptacle 910 of the connector 900.

In various embodiments, leads and connectors having radially spacedapart contacts are configured to allow the distance the lead extendsfrom the connector to be adjusted. This will allow for adjustment of theposition of the distal portion of the lead, and thus electrodes of thelead, to facilitate application of an electrical signal to the properanatomical target, such as the occipital nerve.

Referring now to FIGS. 5A-B, adjustment of the distance X, Y from face930 of connector 900 in proximity to opening of lead receptacle 910(dashed lines indicate that receptacle is internal) to distal end 860 oflead 800 is shown. As shown in FIG. 5B the distance Y that lead 800extends from the face 930 of the connector is greater than the distanceX depicted in FIG. 5A. For the purposes of illustration, the proximalend portion of the lead is shown extending into the connector. Once lead800 is extended the appropriate distance, set screw 920 or othermechanism may be employed to secure lead 800 within lead receptacle andthus relative to face 930 of connector 900. If a set screw 920 isemployed and if the set screw 920 is configured to assist in electricalcoupling of a contact of the lead 800 to electronics of a medicaldevice, the set screw 920 is preferably positioned at a location in theconnector 900 to maximize the adjustability of the lead 800 (e.g., theset screw can engage the contact at the proximal or distal end of thecontact, depending on how far the lead 800 is inserted into thereceptacle 900). In addition, it may be desirable that the distal end ofthe contact 850 does not extend beyond the face 930 of the connector 900in use. More particularly, it may be desirable for the contact 850 to befully contained within the receptacle 910 in use. Seals or otherfeatures may be employed, in the connector 900 or on the lead 800, toelectrically isolate the contact 850 from the body fluids of the patientwhen implanted.

The ability to adjust the length that a lead extends from a connectormay be desirable in situations where excess lead length is undesirable.Typically, adjustability of the placement of a lead can be readilyaccomplished due to the presence of excess lead length. Once the lead isproperly positioned, excess lead length can be wrapped or coiled andimplanted in the patient. However, in some situations, it may not bedesirable to have excess lead length. In such situations, leads withradially spaced apart contacts and corresponding connectors may allowfor adjustments to provide proper lead placement without too muchexcessive lead length. One situation in which excess lead length may beundesirable is when the overall length of the lead is short and the leadis coupled to a connector in proximity to the intended site of action ofthe lead. Another situation in which excess lead length may beundesirable is when the excess coiled or wrapped lead would be implantedin a patient at a location that is uncomfortable for the patient orpotentially harmful to the lead, such as in the neck or under the scalp.

An example of such situations is depicted in FIGS. 6A-B, in which leads800, 800′ are positioned to apply an electrical signal to left and rightoccipital nerves 200 of a patient. In the embodiments depicted in FIGS.6A-B, the leads 800, 800′ are coupled to a connector 24 of a leadextension 20. A single lead extension 20 having a connector 24 capableof receiving two leads is tunneled to a location in proximity thepatient's neck or base of the skull. Tunneling a single extension 20 (asopposed to two extensions) from a subcutaneous pocket into which animplantable signal generator is implanted reduces surgical time andpotential complications. From this position in the neck or near the baseof the skull, the leads 800, 800′ may be connected to the extension 20via the connector 24. The distance that the leads extend from theconnector 24 may be adjusted as described above.

As used herein, “occipital nerve” includes the greater occipital nerve210, the lesser occipital nerve 220 and the third occipital nerve 230.The greater and lesser occipital nerves are spinal nerves arisingbetween the second and third cervical vertebrae (not shown). The thirdoccipital nerve 230 arises between the third and fourth cervicalvertebrae. The portion of the occipital nerve 200 to which an electricalsignal is to be applied may vary depending on the disease to be treatedand associated symptoms or the stimulation parameters to be applied. Invarious embodiments, the lead distal portions 874, 874′ that containelectrodes are placed to allow bilateral application of electricalsignals to the occipital nerve 200 at a level of about C1 to about C2 orat a level in proximity to the base of the skull. The position of theelectrode(s) may vary. It will be understood that the electrode neednot, and in various embodiments preferably does not, contact the nerveto apply the signal to the nerve. It will be further understood that asignal may be applied to any suitable portion of an occipital nerve,whether at a trunk, branch, or the like. In various embodiments, one ormore electrodes are placed between about 1 cm and about 8 cm from themidline to effectively provide an electrical signal to the occipitalnerve 200. Minor adjustments of the position of the electrodes relativeto the occipital nerves 200 may be accomplished by moving the proximalportion of the lead within the connector 900. e.g. as described abovewith regard to FIGS. 5A-B.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the leads 800, 800′ may include a paddle shapeddistal portions 874, 874′ containing electrodes. Such paddle shapedleads are often referred to as surgical leads. Examples of surgicalleads that may be modified to form leads as described herein includeMedtronic Inc.'s Resume, SymMix, On-Point, or Specify series of leads.Surgical leads typically contain electrodes that are exposed through oneface of the paddle, providing directional stimulation. As shown in FIG.6B, the leads may include distal portions 874, 874′ that includeelectrodes that are generally cylindrically shaped. Such leads are oftenreferred to percutaneous leads. Examples of percutaneous leads that maybe modified to form leads as described herein include Medtronic Inc.'sQuad Plus, Pisces Quad, Pisces Quad Compact, or 1×8 SubCompact, 1×8Compact, and 1×8 Standard leads. Such percutaneous leads typicallycontain ring electrodes that apply an electrical stimulation signal totissue in all directions around the ring. Accordingly, the amplitude ofthe signal (and thus the energy required from the signal generator)applied may be greater with percutaneous leads that surgical leads foroccipital nerve therapies.

Schematic drawings of some representative leads 800, 800′ havingelongate radially spaced apart contacts 850, 850′ and extensions 20 thatmay be employed to apply electrical signals to occipital nerves asdescribed above are shown in FIGS. 7-8. In the depicted embodiments, theproximal portion 21 of the extension 20 includes contacts 22 forelectrical coupling the extension 20 to a signal generator. The distalportion of extension 20 includes a connector 24 containing two leadreceptacles (not shown) having internal contacts for coupling tocontacts 850, 850′ of leads 800, 800′. The connector 24 may be of anysuitable size and shape. In various embodiments, the connector 24 has avolume of less than about 10 cubic centimeters; e.g., less than about 5cubic centimeters. Set screws 920, 920′ may be used to secure leads 800,800′ in receptacles. Of course, any other suitable mechanism forsecuring leads 800, 800′ in receptacles may be employed. In theembodiment depicted in FIG. 8, the lead receptacles (not shown) aregenerally perpendicular to the angle of entry of the proximal portion 21into connector 24.

Leads 800, 800′ include proximal portions 872, 872′ containing contacts850, 850′ and distal portions 874, 874′ containing electrodes 824, 824′.In many embodiments, the number of contacts 22 of the extension 20 isequal to the total number of electrodes 824, 824′ of both of the leads800, 800′, and each receptacle (not shown) of the connector 24 has anumber of contacts corresponding to the number of contacts 850, 850′ ofthe lead 800, 800′ that the receptacle is configured to receive.

Various embodiments of leads, connectors, devices or systems have beendescribed above with regard to occipital nerve stimulation. However, itwill be understood that such leads, devices and systems may be used forany other therapeutic or monitoring purpose. It will be furtherunderstood that leads and connectors as described herein may or may notbe used in configurations where the distance the lead extends from theconnector is adjustable.

Thus, embodiments of LEAD HAVING RADIALLY SPACED APART CONTACTS TO ALLOWFOR ADJUSTABILITY are disclosed. One skilled in the art will appreciatethat the leads, extensions, connectors, devices such as signalgenerators, systems and methods described herein can be practiced withembodiments other than those disclosed. The disclosed embodiments arepresented for purposes of illustration and not limitation.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for adjusting the distance from which alead extends from a face of a connector configured to receive the lead,the connector including a lead receptacle having first and secondinternal contacts configured to electrically couple to the first andsecond contacts of the lead, the method comprising: inserting a leadinto the lead receptacle, the lead comprising a lead body having aproximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion having aproximal end, and the distal portion having a distal end, first andsecond contacts located at the proximal portion of the lead body, andfirst and second electrodes located at the distal portion of the leadbody, wherein the first electrode is electrically coupled to the firstcontact and the second electrode is electrically coupled to the secondcontact, wherein the first contact has a proximal end and a distal endand the second contact has proximal end and a distal end, and whereinthe second contact is radially spaced apart from the first contact; anda device having a lead connector configured to receive the lead, whereinthe connector has first and second radially spaced apart internalcontacts, wherein the first internal contact is configured to engage andelectrically couple the first contact of the lead when the lead isreceived by the connector, and wherein the second internal contact isconfigured to engage and electrically couple the second contact of thelead when the lead is received by the connector; wherein the lead isaxially moveable in the connector such that the distance the leadextends from a face of the connector is adjustable, and wherein thefirst and second contacts of the lead and the first and second contactsof the connector, respectively, are electrically couplable at aplurality of axial positions as the lead is moved axially within theconnector; and adjusting the distance that the lead extends from theface of the connector by axially moving the lead within the leadreceptacle, wherein the first and second contacts of the lead arecapable of electrically coupling to the first and second internalcontacts of the receptacle as the lead is being axially moved within thereceptacle.
 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the connector isincluded in an electrical signal generator.
 3. A method according toclaim 1, wherein the connector is included in a lead extension.
 4. Animplantable medical device, comprising: a lead connector configured toreceive a lead having radially spaced apart first and second contacts,wherein the connector has first and second radially spaced apartinternal contacts, wherein the first internal contact is configured toengage and electrically couple the first contact of the lead when thelead is received by the connector, and wherein the second internalcontact is configured to engage and electrically couple the secondcontact of the lead when the lead is received by the connector; whereindevice is configured to allow the lead to move longitudinally in theconnector such that the distance the lead extends from a face of theconnector is adjustable, and wherein the first and second contacts ofthe lead and the first and second internal contacts of the connector,respectively, are electrically couplable at a plurality of axialpositions as the lead is moved longitudinally within the connector.
 5. Adevice according to claim 4, wherein the connector is configured toallow insertion of the lead, wherein the distance from a proximal end ofthe first contact of the lead to a distal end of the first contact ofthe lead is between 2 cm and 10 cm, and wherein the distance from aproximal end of the second contact of the lead to a distal end of thesecond contact of the lead is between 2 cm and 10 cm.
 6. A deviceaccording to claim 4, wherein the connector is configured to allowinsertion of the lead, wherein the distance from a proximal end of thefirst contact of the lead to a distal end of the first contact of thelead is about 2 cm, and wherein the distance from a proximal end of thesecond contact of the lead to a distal end of the second contact of thelead is about 2 cm.
 7. A device according to claim 4, wherein the deviceis an implantable signal generator.
 8. A device according to claim 4,wherein the device is an implantable lead extension.
 9. A deviceaccording to claim 8, further comprising an implantable signal generatorconfigured to be coupled to the lead extension such that a signalgenerated by the signal generator may be transmitted to an electrode ofthe lead via the lead extension.